Mind the gap.

THE founder of this nation once said: 'No nation can ever be worthy of its existence that cannot take its women along with the men. No struggle can ever succeed without women participating side by side with men.' Seventy-two years later, Pakistan still has a long way to go when it comes to ensuring equal rights and opportunities for half its population. According to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2020, the country is one of the most inequitable societies for women to live in. Ranking 151 out of 153 countries, just above war-torn Yemen and Iraq, the country also had the lowest ranking in the entire South Asian region. In comparison, Bangladesh performed significantly better at 50; Nepal stood at 101; followed by Sri Lanka at 102; and neighbouring India at 112. While many of the countries listed improved with time when it came to ensuring women's equal status - the authors of the report link this welcome progress to the higher participation of women in politics - Pakistan did not. In 2006, it was placed at 112 out of 115 countries. And last year, it was ranked 148 out of 149 countries.

To measure inequality, the survey examines the difference between men and women in their participation and access to health, education, the economy and...